Delta bans rude pro-Trump passenger for life

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Delta Air Lines is banning for life a passenger who rudely professed his support for Republican President-elect Donald Trump and insulted those who didn’t on a flight to Pennsylvania, the company’s CEO said Monday.

Edward Bastian said in an internal memo that the airline is also refunding the cost of tickets for other passengers on the Nov. 22 flight from Atlanta to Allentown.

The (Allentown) Morning Call first reported on a video posted on Facebook by a fellow passenger on Flight 248, traveling from Atlanta to Allentown on Tuesday. The video shows the man standing in the aisle, yelling and insulting Hillary Clinton supporters. 

A video posted on Facebook by a passenger shows a man standing in the aisle, yelling and insulting supporters of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

The man asks loudly: “We got some Hillary b**ches on here?” He proceeds to clap and yell Trump’s name a few times while other passengers seemingly try to ignore him, some staring at phones and tablets, others with arms folded.

(Below is video purporting to show more of the encounter. WARNING: Some may find the language in the video offensive.)

Referring to Trump’s victory, he says: “If you don’t like it, too bad.”

The Atlanta-based airline had previously apologized over the man’s outburst.

Bastian said the crew questioned the man and made the best decision they could, given the information they had, and allowed him to remain on the flight.

“However, if our colleagues had witnessed firsthand what was shown in the video, there is no question they would have removed him from the aircraft,” he wrote Monday. “He will never again be allowed on a Delta plane.”

CBS News obtained an email that Bastian sent to the company on Monday:

 To:                        Delta Colleagues Worldwide

 From:                    Ed Bastian

 Subject:                 Disruptive Passenger on DL248

Thank you for the amazing job you did running our operation and taking care of our customers during the busy Thanksgiving holiday. At Delta, we strive to deliver a safe and reliable product while providing a customer experience that is second to none. You come to work every day prepared to serve our customers and to take care of each other while also dealing with the unexpected.

 As you may have heard by now, last week a video began circulating around the internet showing a disruptive passenger on board a Delta flight. This individual displayed behavior that was loud, rude and disrespectful to his fellow customers. After questioning the customer, our team members made the best decision they could given the information they had and allowed him to remain on the flight. However, if our colleagues had witnessed firsthand what was shown in the video, there is no question they would have removed him from the aircraft. He will never again be allowed on a Delta plane.

 Part of being a reliable travel partner and a servant leader is acknowledging our mistakes so we can learn from them and respond more effectively in the future. Delta has apologized to the customers onboard that flight. We are also refunding those customers the cost of their tickets.

 I also want to make sure all of you know we have your backs. The heightened tension in our society means that now more than ever we must require civility on our planes and in our facilities. We must stay true to Delta’s core values and treat one another with dignity and respect. We also must remain committed more than ever to the safety of our customers and our crew members. We will not tolerate anything less.

 Again, thank you for all you do.